Post for record books



Oct. 27 1 942. Aug RN 2300;089

POST FOR RECORD Books Filed Feb. 14, 19,42

. \\\Ellb I FIG 8 FIG 9 22 INVENTOR a HUBERT AUBURN Patented Got. 27, 1942 wow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POST FOR RECORD BOOKS Hubert AuburmMount Healthy, Ohio, assignor to The Tenacity Manufacturing 00., Lockland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 14, 1942, Serial No. 430,981

9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet impaling posts of the type for use with loose leaf binders, record books, and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a' sheet impaling post which may be fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, such as cold rolled steel, or the like.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a sheet impaling post of the character stated which is particularly adapted to be manufactured by modern mass production methods, at low cost and which is further characterized by its great strength and durability.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein, and as illustrated in the drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a front plan view of a sheet impaling post embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2* is a side view of the post of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the post of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sheet material blank in extended form from which the post of Fig. l is fabricated.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the blankof Fig. 4 positioned on a forming die.

Figs. 6 and 7 are side and end views respectively of the blank of Fig. 4 after having been given a U-shape by the die of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of an arbor upon which the blank of Figs. 6 and '7 is closed.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the partially fabricated post upon leaving the arbor of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken through a second die which initially curls the ends of the post of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view through an eyelet forming device with the post of Fig. 10 mounted therein.

Fig. 12 is a side view of an extended blank wherein the ends of the blank are initially curled incident to the blank stamping operation.

Fig. 13 is a rear view of one end of a modified form of post embodying the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on line I4I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of an extended blank from which the post of Fig. 13 is fabricated. v

Fig. 16 is a rear view of one end of another modified form of post embodying the present invention.

Fig. 1'7 is a vertical section taken on line ll-ll of Fig. 16.

The present invention is not concerned with,

nor directed to any particular kind or type of loose leaf binder or record book device, but rather is directed solely to a sheet'impaling post per se, of the rigid, non-extensible type for use with such devices.

The sheet metal impaling post of the present invention is adapted to replace the solid sheet impaling posts now extensively used in the binder and record book art. As disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the present post comprises an elongated hollow box-like substantially rectangular shaped body portion I9, having a pair of eyelets 28 formed at the opposite ends thereof. Eyelets 2i] are adapted to be engaged by the pintles of a suitable binder or record book mechanism, not illustrated, for retaining record sheets impaled upon the posts. It will be noted that such record sheets are provided with suitable apertures whichare preferably of such dimensions as to loosely or freely engage the body portion 19 of a post, while just permitting an eyelet 20 to pass therethrough.

The post of the present invention may be fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, such as, by way of example, 22 gauge cold rolled steel. As disclosed in Fig. 4, the post may be fabricated from an extended blank which comprises a substantially rectangular shaped central portion 2| having a width defined by the parallel, spaced edges 26 and 2'1, which is substantially equal to the sum of the respective widths of front wall 22, rear wall 23, and side walls 24 and 25 of the body portion of the post of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. The length of the rectangular central portion 2| between lines 28 and 29 is substantially equal to the overall length of body portion I9 of a post measured between spaced eyelets 20. Tongues 30 project outwardly from the opposite ends of the centralportion 2l of'the blank; The width of each tongue as defined by side edges 3| and 32 is equal to the overall width 33 of eyelets; 20, see Figs. 1 and 3. The length of each tongue is substantially equal to the periphery of an eye let 20, Fig. 2 measured from its point of tangency 36 with front wall 22 of the post to its outer edge 35.

Those portions of the central portion 21 of the blank body along lines 28' and 29 and between sides 26 and 21 and the side edges 3! and 32 respectively of tongues 3il'are preferably cut away as at 31 for facilitating fabrication of the post. It will be observed that a short edge 38 will thus be provided adjacent and at right angles to the opposite ends of side edges 26 and 21 of the blank.

The extended blank of Fig. 4 may be fabricated into the finished post of Figs. 1 'to 3'inclusive by the following steps: a

A suitable die having male and female elements 4| and 42 respectively (Fig. 5) may be provided for initially bending the blank of Fig. 4 to a U- shape, thereby forming front wall 22 and a portion of side walls 24 and 25 of the post. It will be observed from Figs. 6 and 7 that tongues 38 remain in substantially the same plane as front wall 22 during this operation.

The partially formed post of Fig. '7 may be then placed upon an arbor 43 of Fig. 8 whereby the sides 24 and 25 of the post are completed, and whereby rear wall 23 is formed when side edges 26 and 21 of the blank of Fig. l are brought together in line contact with one another as at 44.

The partially formed post of Fig. 9 may be then placed in a suitable die $5 in which the ends of tongues 30 are initially curled or beaded as at 46.

The post of Fig. 10 may be then placed in a suitable die, Fig. 11, wherein the beaded ends 46 may be curled by means of die elements 4? and 48 actuated by plunger 49 to provide eyelets 20, of Fig. 2.

As best disclosed in Figs. 2 and 3, the free or outer ends 35 of eyelets are looped around under the ends 38 of rear wall 23, thereby providing a circular bearing member which will substantially encircle the pintle member of a binder or record book. Eyelets likewise preferably contact ends 38 of the rear wall whereby to provide a structure which will eifectively preclude the entry of the edge of a sheet of paper between the ends 38 of the body portion l9 and eyelets 20 of a post. End of eyelet 25 is preferably looped around to engage the inner surface of front wall 22 at point 36 where eyelet 2a is tangent to said front wall.

The posts may, upon leaving the die of Fig. ll be transferred directly to a barrel type plating machine where a smooth durable finish is automatically applied to the post.

Binder posts thus fabricated cost less than the solid posts hereinabove referred to, and in addition thereto, are more durable, and have greater strength than the solid posts. The eyelets of the present sheet metal posts are not mutilated or distorted incident to engagement with the pintles of binder and record books as are the eyelets of solid posts, wherefore the useful life of such posts is very great.

As clearly disclosed in Figs. 1 and 3, the width of eyelets 20, denoted by the numeral 33, may be of a lesser dimension than the lateral distance between side walls 24 and 25, in order to facilitate alignment of the eyelets of a post with an opening or post receptive notch provided in the pintle slide housing of the binder or record book with which it is to be associated. As disclosed in Fig. 2, the diameter of eyelets EU is of a dimension greater than the thickness of a post, whereby to snugly engage the aperture of a record sheet impaled upon the posts. Once an eyelet 20 has been inserted through such an aperture, the aperture will loosely engage the body portion I9 of the post.

The post disclosed in Fig. 13 differs from that of Fig. 3 in that the outer end of tongue of the blank of Fig. 4 has been cut away or notched as at 5!] (Fig. 15) whereby to provide a pair of forwardly extending spaced fingers 5i and 52. The lateral distance X between the adjacent edges of fingers 5| and 52 is of a dimension some what in excess of the combined or total length of the end edges 33 at an end of rear wall 23.

Bottom edge 54 of notch 50 is spaced from outer edge 35 by a dimension which will locate edge 54 just short of the end 38 of rear wall 23 when tongue 30 has been curled into eyelet 20. Such construction, as disclosed in Fig. 13 disposes fingers 5| and 52 at the outer edges of ends 38 in such a manner as to effectively preclude, not onl the lateral separation of edges 26 and 21 of rear wall 23, but it also provides a reinforcement for the rear wall of the eyelet for precluding turning of the eyelet relative to rear wall 23. In order to provide a sufficient bearing surface between fingers 5| and 52 and the outer edges of ends 38, the ends 28 and 29 of the blank of Fig. 4 may be cut away or notched as at SI of Fig. 15.

The post of Fig. 16 differs from that of Fig. 13 in that bottom edge 54 of the blank of Fig. 15 has been so located as to overlap or extend over the outer ends 38 of rear wall 23 when tongue 30 has been curled into eyelet 28. As in Fig. 13, fingers 5! and 52 engage the side edges 6! of ends 33 whereby to preclude the lateral separation of edges 25 and 2'! of rear wall 23. This construction maintains ends of front and rear walls 22 and 23 respectively in substantial parallelism, by preventing the ends of rear wall 23 from being bent outwardly over eyelets 20 incident to the application of a compressive force along the longitudinal axis of body portion E9. The provision of fingers 5! and 52 effectively precludes the lateral separation of edges 25 and 21 incident to the application of a twisting force to the longitudinal axis of a post.

Experiment has proven that sheet metal posts of the types herein disclosed are far superior to the one-piece posts heretofore used with record books and binders, since the instant sheet metal posts are lighter, stronger both in compression and tensile strength, more easily finished, and much easier and less expensive to manufacture than the old posts.

It should be understood that the sequence of steps followed in fabricating a sheet metal post from a blank similar to that disclosed in Fig. 4 or Fig. 15 may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. In some instances, it may be desirable to initially curl the ends of tongues 30 at the same time the blank is formed whereby an end view of such a blank would assume a shape disclosed in Fig. 12.

What is claimed is:

1. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, nonextensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post comprising a hollow, box-like substantially rectangular body portion, and eyelets formed at the ends of said body portion.

2. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, ncnextensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post comprising a hollow, substantially rectangular shaped body portion including front and rear walls and side portions, and a pair of eyelets provided one each at opposite ends of said front wall, the longitudinal axis of said eyelets being parallel to each other and disposed at substantial right angles to the longitudinal axis of the body portion of said post.

3. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, nonextensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post comprising a hollow box-like substantially rectangular shaped body portion including spaced parallel front and rear walls interconnected along their corresponding edges by side portions, and a pair of eyelets located one at each end of said body portion, said eyelets comprising closed loops formed in the ends of the front wall of said body portion.

4. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, non-extensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post cornprising a hollow box-like elongated substantially rectangular body portion including spaced, parallel front and rear walls interconnected along their corresponding edges by side walls, and a pair of eyelets located one at each end of said body portion, said eyelets comprising substantially closed loops formed in the ends of the front wall of said body portion, the longitudinal axis of each of said eyelets being disposed at right angles with the longitudinal axis of said body portion, said eyelets extending tangentially from the ends of said front wall and looped rearwardly whereby to contact the ends of the rear wall of said body portion.

5. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, non-extensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post comprising a hollow, elongated substantially rectangular body portion including front, rear and side walls, and a pair of eyelets located one at each end of said body portion, said eyelets formed by bending the free ends of the front wall rearwardly about a transverse axis whereby to provide substantially closed loops which extend tangentially from the ends of said front wall and which extend over the ends of the rear wall of said body portion, and means associated with said eyelets for engaging the ends of the rear wall of the body portion for precluding lateral movement between said eyelets and said rear wall.

6. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, non-extensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said-post comprising a hollow, elongated substantially rectangular body portion including front, rear and side walls, and a pair of eyelets located one at each end of said body portion, said eyelets formed by bending the free ends of the front wall rearwardly about a transverse axis whereby to provide substantially closed loops which extend tangentially from the ends of said front wall and which extend over the ends of the rear wall of said body portion, and means associated with said eyelets for engaging the ends of the rear wall of the body portion for precluding lateral movement between said eyelets and said rear wall, and which maintain the corresponding ends of the front and rear walls in substantial parallelism.

7. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, non-extensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post comprising a hollow, elongated substantially rectangular body portion including front, rear and side walls, and a pair of eyelets located one at each end of said body portion, said eyelets formed by bending the free ends of the front wall rearwardly about a transverse axis whereby to provide substantially closed loops which extend tangentially from the ends of said front wall and which extend over the ends of the rear wall of said body portion, and cooperating means associated with the ends of said rear wall and with each of said eyelets whereby the ends of said rear wall are anchored to said eyelets,

8. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, non-extensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post comprising a hollow, box-like substantially rectangular body portion including front and rear walls and side portions, and eyelets formed at the ends of said body portion, the width of said eyelets being of a dimension less than the lateral distance between said side portions.

9. As a new article of manufacture a rigid, non-extensible record book post fabricated from a single piece of sheet material, said post comprising a hollow, elongated substantially rectangular body portion including front, rear and side walls, and a pair of eyelets located one at each end of said body portion, said eyelets formed by bending the free ends of the front wall rearwardly about a transverse axis whereby to provide substantially closed loops which extend tangentially from the ends of said front wall and which extend over the ends of the rear wall of said body portion, a notch provided in that portion of each loop adjacent an end of said rear wall into which notch an end of the rear wall extends and terminates.

HUBERT AUBURN. 

